Legacy Of Trill: Soulbound Part 6

Ascream woke me that night, permeating my dreams and twisting them into something that I feared would stay with me, but when I opened my eyes, the images were gone, and I lay there, wondering whether or not the scream had been real. Then I heard it again, just outside my window. Jumping out of bed, I flung open the window and looked down. Maddox was standing in the courtyard, a haunted expression on her face. Just as I was about to ask her what all the screaming was about, she screamed again at the hulking ma.s.s that was moving ever closer to her in the shadows. Without thinking, I stepped onto the ledge and jumped, tucking and rolling as I fell on the soft gra.s.s below. My left hip screamed from the fall, and I knew Iad be bruised, but I had to get to Maddox, had to help her in whatever way I could.

Something dark and fast whipped by my right side and I turned my head toward it. As I did, it moved by my left. Swift shadows that I knew had to be made of substance. Maddox flew through the air toward me, landing in a heap. The crackle of the torches was drowned out by a horrible screecha"one that I recognized instantly. Another Graplar had gotten inside the wall.

Instantly, I opened my mouth to call for help, to yell in hopes that someone in the dorms would hear me, but I snapped it closed again. I couldnat scream, couldnat cry out. Sounds would only attract the Graplars. The smartest thing I could do was stay still and silent and try to figure this out on my own. I could count about fifty paces to the armory, and it would take another twenty paces to get around to the armory door. Which meant that it might as well have been on the other side of Tril. Which meant that I was without a katana. Which meant that we were dead meat.

Maddox moaned from where she lay on the ground. As slowly as possible, not wanting to attract the Graplaras attention, I inched over to where she lay and squatted beside her. Blood was pouring from the bite wound on her neck, coloring the ground an inky black in the moonlight. I ripped a large rectangle of fabric from my sleeping clothes and pressed in into the wound, trying to stop the blood from coming. Maddox was hurt badly and needed immediate medical attention. And without a Healer Bound to her, I wasnat sure she could survive thisa"not even with the Master Healeras a.s.sistance. But I had to try, had to get Maddox to the hospital wing as quickly as possible.

A figure was moving from torch to torch, dousing them, and when my eyes focused in the darkness, I was relieved to see both a face I knew well and a katana on his back, but I couldnat believe that no one from the dorms had heard the commotion. aRaden! Hurry, thereas a Graplar inside the wall!a He looked about and found me quickly. When he ran over to where I was holding Maddox, he didnat miss a beat. aWhat direction? How many?a aJust one that I saw. It ran west, but it bit Maddox.a His eyes scanned the darkness. aIt wonat go far. They prefer to feed rather than injure. Stay here and stay still and quiet. Iall get it.a He took off at a sprint, but I could barely make out the sound of his footfalls. Tears rolled down my cheeks and dripped from my chin to Maddoxas hair. After a long silence, a horrific screech filled my ears, ringing through me. Raden returned a moment later, a triumphant look in his eyes, and scooped Maddox into his arms. As we hurried to the hospital wing, I swore that I would figure out how the Graplars were getting into the school, and I swore silently to Maddox that I would stop it from happening ever again.

CHAPTER.

Twenty.

Iawoke the next morning in a chair beside Maddoxas hospital bed, my head lying on her blanket. Maddoxas neck was covered with a thick white bandage, her face pale. When she saw me stir, her eyes brightened. I glanced around the room, happy to find that we were completely alone. aMaddox, how are you? Do you need anything?a She started to shake her head, but then winced at the pain the action had caused her. aIam fine. Really.a aWhat were you doing outside? I thought you were confined to the parlor at night.a aItas stupid.a She sighed, but I could tell she was holding back her movements. She must have been in a great deal of pain. aI heard the dining hall was open late and serving fruit pastries.a I threw her a disbelieving look. aThat is stupid. Howas your neck feel anyway?a aSore.a For a moment, the Maddox that I knew was gone, replaced by someone who seemed softer, more fragile. She looked at me, and lowered her voice to a mere whisper. aIam so scared, Kaya.a I flicked a glance at her bandage, uselessly hoping to get a look at her wound and see how it was healing. aYou donat need to be scared, Maddox. Raden killed the Graplar that bit you.a aThatas not it. I mean, thatas part of it.a aSo whatas the rest of it? What are you afraid of?a Her eyes looked haunted, as I had never seen them before. The sight of them frightened me. aI donat have a Healer, Kaya. And Iall probably never have a Healer. And I have no idea what Iam doing with a katana. Iam scared that Iam going to die. Maybe not now. But the next time I encounter one of those things.a My voice caught in my throat as I shook my head again. aYou canat think like that, Maddox.a Maddox sat up in bed, her expression hopeless. aWhy not? Itas true, isnat it? All of itas true.a It was hard to imagine what it was like to live in a world full of people who knew that they could be healed by the touch of a hand, but that you couldnat. I reached out and squeezed her hand. aWhen you get better, Iall teach you everything I know about how to kill Graplars.a A small ray of hope returned to her eyes then, and I was grateful to see it, grateful to see a glimpse of the girl that Iad come to care about. But guilt came cras.h.i.+ng down hard all around me. I should have offered to show her what Iad learned before. If I had, she might not be lying in bed, injured right now. aThanks.a Hours later, at the Master Healeras insistence, I finally exited Maddoxas room in the hospital wing. Maddox didnat need me there. Her wounds had looked far worse than they actually were, and now she was well medicated and cleanly bandaged. The Graplaras bite had been treated to the best of the Master Healeras ability, and when the Master Healer wasnat looking, Iad retreated it with some of Dariusas amazing healing cream. After that, it was a matter of waiting. All I had really been doing for the past three hours was holding Maddoxas hand and apologizing for something which I had absolutely no control over. So, with needless guilt weighing down my every step, I let go of Maddoxas hand and moved into the hallway.

Trayton was waiting for me in the halla"for that, I was truly grateful. Despite the fact that he hadnat been in the courtyard when Iad needed him. He stood as I approached and cupped his hand over mine, intertwining our fingers. His eyes were locked on mine, as if he were trying to gauge my well-being. aHow is she?a My heart was so heavy I could barely speak. aThey say sheall be back in action in two or three days.a aAre you okay?a aIam fine. But where were you?a A flash of guilt crossed his face. aItas not always easy to hear through the dorm walls. Believe me, if I had kna"a I cut off his sentence with a look and sighed. aThis is exactly why Healers should know how to fight, Trayton. If Iad had a katana in my hands, I could have protected her.a Shaking his head, he did his best to sound rea.s.suringa"and failed miserably. aDonat beat yourself up wondering what might have been. And donat forget that Maddox is a Barron. Even if sheas not trained in the art of fighting, she has a natural ability that far surpa.s.ses anything that even a well-trained Healer could accomplish.a I shot him a look. aAnd why wasnat she trained exactly? She is a Barron, after all.a Trayton looked past me down the hall. When he met my eyes again, he lowered his voice, as if what he was about to say were a secret. aThe headmaster thought that if she had training, she might eventually use it in an effort to leave the academy.a Disgust filled me. aSo instead of teaching her a skill to defend herself and risking her running away, head rather keep her ignorant and ensure she stays here? Thatas ridiculous.a aIt may seem ridiculous, but itas for her own good.a He shrugged, and then went back to looking down the hall toward Maddoxas door. aBesides, like I said, Maddox has a natural ability. With or without training, she could defend herself in a dire situation, Iam sure.a The urge to argue with him was undeniable. I donat know whoad been put in charge of deciding who had a natural ability to do what, but Maddox seemed far more like an Unskilled than she did a Barron. I could have taken down that Graplar ten times quicker than Maddox coulda"even if she had been armed. But there was no use in arguing with him. Trayton had grown up believing that Healers were Healers and Barrons were Barrons, and thatas just the way it is. Opening his mind would take more than a five-minute conversation in the hospital wing.

My thoughts drifted to the wall, and I wondered about possible weaknesses in it. Darius had a.s.sured me that the wall was solid, and that Graplars could not possibly get through or over it. But what if he was wrong? What other way could Graplars possibly be getting inside? aDo they have blueprints of the surrounding wall at the library?a Trayton narrowed his eyes a bit in suspicion. aOf course.a aGood.a aCan I ask why?a As we moved down the hall, I answered, aBecause I want to know how Graplars are getting inside the wall, and I think thatas a good place to start. Donat you?a aThe blueprints arenat going to show you anything that you donat already know or havenat already seen. Besides, donat you think Headmaster Quill has patrols searching every inch of that wall even now?a He held the door open for me, and as we crossed the campus I mulled over what he was saying.

aThe outside of it or the inside?a aWhat? Where the patrols are searching?a At my nod, he replied, aThe outer perimeter, of course.a I straightened my shoulders, certain Iad found the answer to our dilemma. No one was searching the inner perimeter, so clearly, the problem had to be there. It wouldnat be the first time that Barronsa arrogance had been their downfall. aThen Iall start my own search inside.a aTomorrow.a Trayton smiled, as if he were trying to pacify me. aYou need your rest tonight.a As we pa.s.sed the courtyard, I glanced up. Dariusas window was dark.

I couldnat help but wonder where head gone.

CHAPTER.

Twenty-one.

So of course the Outer Rim has been designated the most dangerous area in all of Tril, running through all three continentsa"that is, Kokoro, Haruko, and Kaitoa"in an oval shape.a Mr. Ross breathed in, his breath wet and nasally, before continuing his lecture. I was leaning my cheek on the heel of my palm, trying desperately to keep my eyes open. aIt is highly suspected that this ring of danger is due to the elevation of each of those areas. Graplars, as we all know, thrive best in high elevations, and all along the naturally formed Outer Rim are the highest peaks throughout Tril. Sadly, this area is also home to many Skilled villages. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost on this front, and so the Outer Rim has become the most active part of the battleground and our fight against Darrek. If youall turn to pagea"a The door opened abruptly and someone moved inside. Whoever it was, I was blissfully thankful that their presence had silenced Mr. Ross for the momenta"even though I knew that silence would be painfully short. I could feel the breeze of their swift movement on my arms as they stepped past me to the front of the cla.s.s, but didnat bother looking to see who it was. I was too close to sleep and the blissful dreams that would take me away from Mr. Rossas boring history lessons. Who cared about the history of the war against Darrek anyway? The point was, we were fighting him. For reasons that had yet to be explained to me. It was yawn inducing. Almost coma inflicting.

Just as I was starting to feel myself slipping away into a nice nap, a handa"warm and stronga"closed over my biceps and squeezed, as if to shake me from my stupor. I opened my eyes and looked up to find Darius staring down at me. Under his breath, he said, aCome on. Letas go.a Confused, I blinked at Mr. Ross, who nodded and gestured to the door. So with his permission, I gathered my books into my satchel and made my way out the door. I followed Darius in wondering silence for several yards, until we were out of earshot of any of my fellow students, before I hurried to his side and whispered, aWhatas going on? Where are you taking me? How did you get me out of cla.s.s?a He didnat even look at me as he replied. aYouare welcome for that, by the way. Probably the dullest lecture Iave ever had the misfortune of overhearing in my life.a As we rounded the corner of his cabin, Darius said, aWait here, but stay out of sight. If someone sees an unguarded Healer milling about, weare fakked. Weare going on a little field trip, and weall need supplies. Iall be back in a minute.a Leaning with my back against the wall, I kept my head down and tried to act casual. Darius seemed to do nothing without express and distinct purposea"aside from irritate me, which I suspected was solely for his amus.e.m.e.nta"so I trusted that this, too, had its purpose. Several long, grueling, worry-filled moments later, Darius returned with two rucksacks, stuffed full of the supplies that head said wead need. As we moved west, toward the south gate, I dared a question. aWhere exactly are we going?a He didnat pause in his steps, didnat change his breathing or even so much as blink when he replied, aWeare going to the Outer Rim.a I very nearly stumbled, but managed to keep my feet moving forward. Everything that I had heard about the Outer Rim said that it was very much a place that you wanted to avoida"and if you couldnat avoid it, you really wanted to surround yourself with many talented Barrons. It was the most dangerous area of Tril, full of more Graplars and soldiers from Darrekas army than anyone cared to think about. Grabbing Darius by the sleeve, I tugged in a near panic. aAre you crazy? We could die out there!a Turning his head toward me, he paused briefly, his demeanor calm and cool. aWe could die in here too, or have you forgotten?a His eyes dropped to my thigh and I released my grip. When he moved forward, I followed. He had a point. Nowhere was safe. Still, that didnat mean I understood his apparent death wish. As we approached the gate, Darius muttered, aIf Raden asks, youare gathering moss sprigs for the Master Healer.a The south gate was relatively quiet, but as we approached, Raden had his list of names of people who were allowed outside at the ready. He smiled at me in recognition, but furrowed his brow as he looked over the list. aDarius, I have you here, but Iam afraid Kayaas not on the list.a Darius looked bored and disinterested, and Radenas eyes turned to me. Shrugging, and trying to ignore the way my heart was racing, I said, aIam gathering moss sprigs for the Master Healer.a Raden chuckled then and made a note on his list. aThat explains it. Dariusas favorite task. Be careful out there, you two. See you tomorrow.a Darius strode forward, still looking bored, and I followed. We were steps from the now open gate when Raden grabbed the handle of the second katana that Darius was wearinga"my katana. His brow furrowed with suspicion. aWhatas this then? Youare bringing a spare weapon? Expecting trouble while on a simple herb-gathering mission, Darius?a We were caught. Raden knew that something was up, that we were headed outside the wall for nefarious reasons, and he was going to report us for sure. I tried not to look panicked, but wasnat certain I was pulling off cool and confident, as my heart was practically jumping out of my chest.

Darius shrugged Radenas hand away casually. aThe bladeas a bit pitted. I was working on cleaning it when I got wind of this little trip, so I figured Iad bring it along. It was either this or stare at tree bark while she picks weeds.a Radenas laughter followed us out the gate and was only cut off by the clank of metal as it closed behind us. Once we were down the hill several yards, I hurried to Dariusas side. aWeall be gone overnight?a aYes. It takes that long to get where weare going. Fortunately for us, moss sprigs only grow in one area of Tril. So the storyas believable enough.a aSoawhat exactly are we doing? Hunting Graplars?a aNo. Weare actually going to practice your stealth as we make our way to the Outer Rim. But thatas not the real reason Iam taking you there.a He stopped moving and pointed to my rucksack. aYou might want to change. If we do get attacked, the training uniform is so much easier to maneuver in than the Healer uniform.a He turned around and as I changed, a question burned its way out of me. aWhatas the real reason youare taking me there?a He turned his head to the side just as I was tying the sash of my top into a knot. aBecause youare learning how to fight, but you have no idea why we fight. You lack reason. You lack purpose. Every time you bring that blade down, you have to mean it, and you donat yet.a The image of Averyas blood on my fatheras s.h.i.+rt flashed in my mind briefly, and I clenched my jaw defiantly, shoving my Healer uniform into the bag before slipping it over my shoulders. aI have my own reasons. I donat need yours.a Darius gauged me for a moment, and for a second, I was sure he was going to say something other than what he did. aYes, you do.a As quietly as possible, we moved through the woods and down the mountainside. Neither of us spoke, and I tried like h.e.l.l to control my breathing so we wouldnat attract any unwanted visitors to our day hike. After two hours of walking, Darius glanced at me, but I shook my head, unwilling to admit that I was exhausted already and needed a break. An hour more and I gave his sleeve a breathless tug. He nodded, turning his head, checking carefully that it was a relatively safe area to stop briefly. When he gave another nod, I let out an exhausted sigh and sat on a fallen log, opening my rucksack in search of food. There were three brown sacks inside: one containing some type of dried, seasoned meat; one containing different types of dried fruit; and one containing a small baguette and some cheese. I bit into the cheese, chasing it with a bit of bread, and my stomach gurgled its grat.i.tude. I chewed on a few more bits of the bread before giving the dried meat a try. It was somewhat spicy, but oddly tender for jerky. Darius watched the area around us as I ate, always on alert. We didnat speaka"I knew better than to talk without him giving me the go-ahead out here. We were far away from the school now, even farther than Kessler, and well on our way to the Outer Rim. This was dangerous territory, and completely unfamiliar to me. Once Iad finished my snack, I tucked the rest of the food away, and slipped my rucksack back on, its weight feeling heavier than it had when Darius had first handed it to me. There was a long road ahead of us, and I knew that that pack was going to get heavier with every step. But I didnat complaina"mostly because I knew that complaining would do nothing but irritate Darius.

At his signal, we continued silently south for several hours, until the sun was setting just over the trees. Though I could still spy it, the forest had already become incredibly darka"something that seemed to put Dariusas nerves even more on edge than they had been. We moved swiftly through the growing night, and soon our downward trek became an upward climb. We were almost therea"I could feel it in my bones. But just as I was catching my second (or, to be honest, my fifth) wind, Darius stopped in his tracks and listened. My muscles tensed, but when he removed his rucksack and dropped it on the ground, I relaxed a little. It was time to camp. aTomorrow morning, Iall show you Kingsland.a aWonat Maddox or Trayton be suspicious that Iam gone?a aMaddox already knows. I told her this morning when I stopped by to see her and give her some salve for her bite.a Silently, I wondered if head noticed that Iad used some of his medicinal mixture on Maddox already. I was betting that he had. Darius wasnat the kind of person who didnat notice the tiny details.

aAnd Traytonaa He nodded then. Not to anything I had said, but perhaps something in his thoughts. aHeall believe me.a I didnat question how he knew that, just trusted the sincerity on his face. Something told me that he and Trayton had been through a lot together. They trusted each another.

I strained my memory, but couldnat recall ever having heard of the village head mentioned before. aKingsland? Should I have heard of it?a aI would hope so.a His jaw clenched momentarily, and his eyes gave way to a haunted, sad expressiona"a hole in his armor that I had not been prepared to see. aIt lies just north of Woodas Cross.a My heart froze its rhythm, and then sank. Of all the places that Darius would take me, it would have to be the place that haunted my parents still, the place that had robbed from them their dearest loves until they became a couple. Rolling out my sleeping blankets, I lay quietly as Darius circled the area, peering through the darkness to the treetops. I didnat know if he planned on sleeping, and soon, I surprised myself that I could.

When I awoke the following morning, my back was stiff, and my hair was moist with fallen dew. Darius sat atop a large nearby boulder, ever alert. Without even glancing in my direction, he said, aEat something. We only have about an hour before we have to head back to Shadow Academy. Itas all the time we can afford before suspicions arise that we might not actually be on an herb-gathering expedition.a Without speaking, I rolled up my sleeping blankets and placed them inside my rucksack. I chewed a bit of jerky, but I wasnat sure my queasy stomach could handle much more than that. We were going to Woodas Cross todaya"a place Iad hoped Iad never see, a place that was now the eternal resting ground for several thousand Barrons and Healers. Many believed it to be a cursed area. Even my parents, who believed there was a rational explanation for just about everything, didnat like to talk about Woodas Cross, or even to speculate on some of the strange things that had happened there. No onea"not even the academy scholars, as far as I had hearda"could even give a logical reason why the two largest, most damaging battles in the war against Darrek had taken place in exactly the same place, just twenty years apart. It was a haunted place, and no one in their right mind dared to visit it of their own accord.

So of course we were going there.

Darius hadnat said that. Head said that we were going to Kingsland. But what head meant was that we were going through Kingsland, to Woodas Cross. He wanted me to have a reason to fight, and no matter what I might have said to refuse, he was convinced that Woodas Cross would give me that reason. He might have been right, but if he was, I didnat want to find out. The truth was, it scared me. No place that had shaken under so much war or soaked up so much blood could be safe. Energies remaineda"especially negative energiesa"and all that I had heard about Woodas Cross told me that it was a nasty, frightening place to be.

aDariusawhy do you think that the two biggest battles of this war have taken place in exactly the same spot?a I was hesitant to ask him, but curious about what his response might be. He might tell me to fak off or something, but I had to ask. My curiosity couldnat be contained.

He didnat answer at first, and just as I was beginning to think he never would, he said, aDarrekas looking for something. Something that only appears once every two decades.a There was no question in his reply, and the certainty in his tone only drew me in further. aYou seem so sure.a aI am sure.a aHow?a aIave seen him.a I wanted to push for details, but something in the way that his mouth was set told me not to. Quietly, I packed up the remainder of my supplies and slipped my rucksack on before retrieving my katana from beside Darius. He stood listening quietly to the woods before leading me over the next ridge. Nestled at the bottom of the ridge, in an overgrown valley, were the remnants of a small village.

It was difficult to see from the top of the ridge, but as we descended into the valley, through overgrown vines and brush, several buildings came into view. They werenat exactly buildings anymore, being partially burned and ravaged by war, partially reclaimed by nature. The remaining walls were crumbling, but I could still make out soot from where theyad been burned. By the time we reached what had been the main street through town, I could see how Kingsland had once been laid out. The main street had been comprised of eight large buildingsa"likely a grocer, tailor, blacksmith, and other important establishments. Fanning out around those in a southward direction were two hundred or more small buildings. Houses. Which families had called home.

Darius moved down the street and I followed, my feet feeling unsure on the brush-covered ground. I lost my footing once, but managed to steady myself relatively quickly. Darius paused and looked at me over his shoulder. aWatch your step. The ground still holds weapons from both battles here. The greenery grew over it, but it takes metal a long time to be fully reclaimed by Tril. So the ground is a bit uneven in spots.a aIall be careful.a I nodded and when he continued, I followed. All along the main street, we pa.s.sed ravaged buildings, mounds of refuse that were now small hills, torches that vines had grown up and around, making them look like very small trees. When we reached the other end of town, Darius stopped and turned back with a solemnity that I had never seen before. aSix hundred and thirty-two people called Kingsland home. They were Unskilled, not a part of this war at all. Each died a horrible, terrified death, having no idea why they were dying. And the sick truth is that we could have saved them, could have saved them all. But the Zettai Council voted that it was more important to protect the secrecy of Skilled society than to save six hundred people from a horrible fate.a My heart seized momentarily. I had witnessed the selfishness of the Zettai Council firsthand in every panicked glance that I had ever seen in my parentsa eyes, but still I had no idea the lengths to which they would go to hide the fact that Barrons and Healers existed from those they had labeled the Unskilleda"as if they were unworthy of any t.i.tle but one that showed their subservience. The Zettai Council had refused to view the villagers of Kingsland as people, as anything other than a threat, and so theyad sentenced them to death. The fact sank in my stomach like a sour stone.

Dariusas voice softened in respect for the deada"dead which might have been lingering in the place that we were standing. I didnat know if I truly believed in spirits or the afterlife, but I did know better than to disrespect those who had fallena"especially in the place that they had fallen. So as Darius spoke, I listened to him, keeping my eyes on the remnants of town sprawl for any sign of threat, living or not. aThe men, the women, the elderlya"they were bad enough. But Kingsland was home to two hundred and twenty-nine children, Kaya. And because children arenat deemed a threat, they were killed last. They watched as Graplars and Darrekas soldiers entered the town and murdered their loved ones. They watched as strangers, Barrons and Healers, entered town and fought against those whoad stolen their families away. Then, as King Darrek entered town, the Graplars were turned on the children. So while everyone suffered, it was the children who suffered more than anyone.a Sorrow wrapped around me like vines, twisting and pulling until they threatened to rip me apart. Children. How sick was it to destroy adult lives, let alone the lives of children? Lives that had only just begun. Lives filled with so much promise and hope, wiped away with the murderous carelessness of two warring parties. It left a sick sensation in my veins.

aWhoas at fault for their suffering? Most would say Darrek. But the Zettai Council had a hand in their pain, I a.s.sure you.a His jaw tightened and he turned to face me, his eyes fierce. aEvery time I reach for my sword, I hear a child cry. And every time I kill a Graplar, I think of the people who let those children suffer. Skilled, Unskilleda"those are just labels. Children are innocent, and they need our protection. The ghosts of them haunt me every night, and I will not stop until I am purged of this pain, this guilt. They are why I fight.a Suddenly, I knew why Darius had brought me here. Because he had his reasons for fighting. He had his draw to the battlefield, his cause to defend. And he wanted me to have mine as well.

Closing my eyes briefly, I pictured the streets of Kesslera"the Kessler I knew before Avery was murdered. The townsfolk wore friendly, unguarded smiles. The shopkeepers waved as people walked by. The children ran through the streets, laughter trailing behind them in ripples. They were my reason for coming here, for staying herea"the villagers of Kessler. And I would be d.a.m.ned before I would let what happened to the villagers of Kingsland happen to the people of Kessler.

Opening my moist eyes, I nodded to Darius. I got it. Head driven his message home. With a nod in understanding, he set his jaw and said, aNow weare going to Woodas Cross.a I shook my head. There was no reason to go to Woodas Cross now. I had my cause. I didnat need to visit that horrible place. aWhat? Why?a A shadow seemed to eclipse him as he turned and headed farther out of town, he said, aBecause now that you know what youare fighting for, you need to know what youare fighting against.a Dutifully, I followed him out of town and through a wooded glen, though every fiber of my being was pulling at me, pleading with me to stay, to turn back, to get the h.e.l.l away from that horrible place before I ever even got there. I moved forward, trusting Darius to have good reason for this trip, even though my hands were trembling at the thought of visiting Woodas Cross.

The glen grew darker as we moved through it, and as we climbed over a small ridge, a strangling sensation wrapped around my throat. I swallowed hard, trying to resist it, but it seemed to be my bodyas natural response to the area. I knew that we had entered Woodas Cross without having been told. It was a sickness hanging in the air, a darkness that permeated everything around it. Looking down the hill, I could make out the crossroads of what had once been two major roads. Greenery had grown over much of the area, and it didnat look much different than other areas that we had traveled through to arrive in Kingsland, apart from the large, worn wooden sign at the crossroads that read aWoodas Cross.a It amazed me that the simple structure still stood after two major battles had ravaged the area, but there it was, haunting the crossroads, standing sentinel over the area that had tasted so much blood. We descended the hill and Darius led me to the exact center of the crossroads. With every step, my throat felt more and more constricted. By the time we reached the sign, my heart was fluttering in an unexplainable panic. Darius had his eyes on me the entire time. aYou feel it, donat you? They say that Healers can sense it more easilya"the darkness, the utter evil of this place.a Unable to speak, I nodded, wanting nothing more than to run, to flee this place and get back to Shadow Academy. Even Kingsland would have been a welcome distraction from the strange dread of Woodas Cross.

aRemember this feeling. Because it is everything that oozes from the pores of King Darrek. And if we allow it to permeate the rest of Tril, what happened to Kingsland will be a picnic in comparison to the h.e.l.l awaiting us. Remember it, and use it in your fight.a He held my gaze for a moment and then led me back up the ridge. With every step, I felt lighter, my throat less constricted. By the time wead returned to Kingsland, I could breathe again, but the sick horridness of Woodas Cross was still with me. I couldnat explain why it was so awful. I just knew that I never, ever wanted to return to that place.

I barely noticed the village as we crossed back through it. But as we climbed the ridge on the other side, where we had slept the night before, my heart seized. Standing just over the ridge was a group of six Graplars, sniffing our campsite with interest.

They hadnat noticed us, but rather than double back, Darius led me around them, pointing back at my feet in a reminder to use stealth. I s.h.i.+fted my weight to the b.a.l.l.s of my feet and stepped as lightly as I could, carefully navigating my way over fallen branches and twigs. It felt as if every heartbeat rang out into the forest, sounding like a gong.

As we were rounding a large oak, the largest Graplar raised its head toward us. I froze, as did Darius. That moment, with the beastas beady eyes locked on where we were standing, dragged on for an eternity before the hulking creature sneezed and meandered off into the woods. Releasing a quiet sigh of relief, I again followed Dariusas lead. It took hours to return to the familiar area around Shadow Academy, but we didnat speak. Maybe we were both tired. Maybe we had both been affected by the journey to Woodas Cross. Maybe we were terrified that our voices might attract more vigilant Graplars. I didnat know. And I certainly hadnat been expecting to feel a sensation of relief at seeing the wall around the academy. But I did.

My relief, however, was short-lived. I tugged Dariusas sleeve in a near-panic. aDarius, the herbs! We were supposed to be gatheringa"a aMoss sprigs? I know.a He dug in his satchel for a moment before producing a swatch of leather that had been rolled up and tied closed. I took the package, dumbfounded as to when head gathered the herbs, but guessing it was while I lay sleeping last night. A strange grat.i.tude filled me, and I was surprised at its presence. I was grateful that Darius had brought me on this strange field trip, grateful that head reminded me that I already had a reason to fight, and that it wasnat just the ghost of Averya"that it was the still-living people that I cared about. And more than that, I was glad that head shown me Woodas Cross. Because evil like that was likely just a drop of what Darrek contained, and it could not be allowed to permeate our world, no matter what. Avery had been my reason for coming here, but now I had reason to fight, and reason to learn. Reason, it seemed, to give it my all here at Shadow Academy.

As Darius knocked on the giant metal door, I said, aThank you.a He nodded over his shoulder at me just as the small window opened, revealing Radenas eyes on the other side.

CHAPTER.

Twenty-two.

Maddox, slow down!a I shouted after her, but she just rolled her eyes at me over her left shoulder as she exited my dorm room. Ever since wead left the hospital wing, shead been scurrying about all day, like some kind of wild toothboar. It was almost as if she had to prove just how healthy she really was, despite having been bitten by a Graplar just a few days before.

I had waited all day for Trayton to appear, but there was no sign of him anywhere. Maddox and I were headed out of the dorm for, of all places, the rose gardens. But just as Maddox had finally slowed her pacing a bit so I could catch up, Melanie pa.s.sed in the hall with a smirk on her face. aBy the way, Kaya, Trayton looks ravis.h.i.+ng today. Orahavenat you seen him?a She put an emphasis on the word ayoua that I didnat much appreciate, but I walked by her, pretending that I hadnat heard a word shead uttered. As I did so, she stopped me with a hand on my shoulder and leaned in close, her smile twisted and threatening. aTell him, Kaya. Tonight. Or I will.a I shook off her hand, flashed her a hard glare, and followed Maddox down the hall and down the stairs. By the time we reached the outside, my stomach was in knots.

Melanie was going to tell Trayton about my having been in Dariusas cabin, if I didnat tell him first. Shead left me just the way she liked me, with no choice, in a no-win situation. My shoulders sank with defeat.

aThere you are!a Trayton ran over to me from across the courtyard, a big smile on his face. His feet barely made a sound on the cobblestone, and when he reached me, he wasnat even out of breath. aIave been looking for you all day. Did you miss me?a It was easy to smile around Trayton, but my smile still felt false, forced somehow. aOf course I did.a aHow was your trip? I heard you and Darius were picking weeds in the Outer Rim.a Shrugging, I said, aIt was pretty boring and uneventful, considering all the warnings we hear about the area. What about you? What did you do while I was away?a Trayton smiled. aIam just glad that Darius was with you. I would have gone, but apparently the orders came in while I was busy fortifying the north wall. But you were safe with him. Heas probably the only person besides myself Iad trust to guard you outside the wall. Do anything interesting since youave been back?a It struck me then just how many interesting things I did when Trayton wasnat around. An image flashed in my minda"one of katana blades slicing through the aira"but I pushed it away. aOh. You know. Nothing much. Studied some weeds. Terked off Instructor Baak.a Trayton chuckled, so trusting. I was his Healer, after all. Why would I lie to him? aThe usual, huh?a aYeah.a I bit my bottom lip, my stomach roiling some in tension. aThe usual.a What I wanted to do was to tell him everything, that I had been training with Darius in secrecy this whole time, that I had been in his cabin not so long ago, that Melanie was a terrible person and trying to blackmail me. But what I did was smile and hold my breath and wait for Maddox to announce that we had to get going or Mr. Gareth would wonder where I was. As if on cue, Maddox said, aWe should really get going, Kaya.a I could have hugged her, and probably would have.

If Iad wanted a slug in the arm, that is.

CHAPTER.

Twenty-three.

Slipping my training mask over my face, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I hadnat been training with Darius for long, but that didnat diminish my fears. Darius, it turned out, wasnat a guy to hold back for a girlaor a Healeraor anyone at all. When he came at me with his katana, he came at me full force, stopping just short of lopping my head from my shoulders. Head explained how most Barrons train in levels. The first year of training theyad wield a wooden bokken, and only after that would they move to an actual blade. But Darius wasnat a first year instructor, so he had no easy access to the bokkens. Taking one would have alerted the first year instructor that something was up, so it was best, Darius insisted, that I learn with an actual katana from the start. Besides, it earned me a glint of respect in his eyes.

Sure, he hadnat said that, but I could see a glimmer of pride in his gaze whenever Iad swing the blade forward at just the right angle and snap it into place crisply.

I was improving, but the practice wasnat easy. My legs were covered in countless bruises, and two days ago, I tripped as Darius was taking a swipe at me, catching my arm on his blade. It wasnat a deep cut, but it hurt like h.e.l.l and had bled all over the sleeve of my training uniform. Maddox helped me wash it out in the sink, and I st.i.tched up the hole. Something about the repair job made me smile. The cut reminded me of my training, and I was immensely proud of myself for sticking it out even this far. A week might not have been much, but Darius said I was picking up the skills pretty quicklya"especially for being a Healer, which I took as a compliment.

Now my mask was on and I moved across the school grounds without Maddox, my footfalls as silent as I could manage. Darius said I sounded like a drunken Graplar tromping through the woods more than I did a Barrona"his charming way, I was guessing, of saying that we needed to work on my stealth.

The south gate was busier than usual, but I approached it as I had every morning that week, and looked around for my instructor. Darius patted a fellow Barron roughly on the back and turned my way. aYouare late,a he grumbled, as he did every morning. aAgain.a I wasnat late. And the first few times head accused me of being late, it had infuriated me. But on the third go-round, I realized he was just being Darius, just egging me on, for no reason at all that I could understand. Iad let it roll off of me ever since then, and accepted that it was just his strange way of greeting me.

We moved out the gate, Darius in front, as always, and walked down the hill, quickly making our way to the abandoned training area. When we got there, I removed my mask and hung it from a low-hanging branch. Adjusting my hair, pulling it tight back in the leather thong, I noticed Darius was looking at me. I raised an eyebrow, wondering what I was doing wrong now. aWhat is it?a Darius shook his head, a small smirk lifting the corner of his mouth. aNothing. Now if youare done primping, we can practice some offensive maneuvers. Or do you need to put on a skirt first?a Rolling my eyes, I stepped into the center of the training ring, my katana on my back. The weapon felt lighter after a week of training, and I found myself growing more comfortable with the sensation of it in my hands as the days went by. Every morning began the same way: three hours of training with Darius, a quick breakfast, then off to Instructor Baakas ridiculous Healing 101 cla.s.s to learn just why good Healers should sit on the sidelines and let their Barrons do all the work. And every evening ended the same way: extra duties in the rose garden after terking off Instructor Baak. Luckily, Trayton had taken to keeping me company there, and we were getting to know one another pretty well. I never mentioned my training. I knew how head react to it, and there was no way I was going to endanger my family or my instructor, simply because I couldnat keep my mouth shut.

Darius unsheathed his katana and stepped into the ring. aThe thing about fighting Graplars is that most moves youall use will be defensive. You want to wear them out, and keep their mouths busy until the right target presents itself at the right timea"that target being its throat. A katana can definitely take down a Graplar, but almost never in a single cut. Decapitating a person is one thinga"taking the head off a Graplar is quite another. The trick is getting to a right angle on the beast so that the neck is exposed. Best course of action is to evade a charge and cut through the knee, then pivot as the Graplar stumbles and take the head. Or you can hit the creature under the chin with a rising cut in order to raise its head and expose its throat for a horizontal cut. But be quick and firm about ita"donat let the beast suffer. We kill to protect our fellow man. Not to be cruel.a That excited light entered his eyes as he spoke and, once again, I could sense his deep respect for Graplars, though I couldnat understand it. As far as I had seen, Graplars were stupid, drooling monsters that deserved to have their heads lopped off. But what Darius saw when he looked at them was something else entirely. He actually admired the creatures. I got the feeling that if there were any way to protect Barrons and Healers from King Darrekas advances without harming a single Graplar, Darius would do it in a heartbeat.

It really made you wonder about his social life.

aNever forget. You must move swiftly like the wind, stay as silent as the forest, attack as fierce as the fire, and be undefeatable like the mountain. Now,a he said, his eyes becoming serious, his lips thinning into a line, aattack me.a Holding the katana in front of me, with my right hand directly beneath the guard, I placed my other hand about three inches down on the pommel. I kept my center of gravity low and my eyes on Darius, who barely moved with each breath he took. Then I stepped forward, raising my blade up and swinging it through the air at the perfect angle, its metal singing, my arm pulling the weapon through the air, ready to cleave Dariusas shoulder in two.

But the idea of hurting him put hesitation into my blow, and Darius knew ita"I could see it in his eyes. He moved forward, light on his feet, and pulled his blade up against mine. The sound of metal on metal rang through the air. And the next thing I knew, he brought his foot up and kicked me in the stomach, sending me flying. I landed in the underbrush several feet back, the air knocked from my lungs, a terrible ache at my core. Pain rocketed through my spine as I landed on my backside, but all I could think about was getting to my katanaa"wherever it wasa"and getting back in that ring.

Darius stood over me, a katana in each hand. He wasnat smirking, but I could tell that he was fighting not to. aYouaa"he said as he held my katana out to me and smileda"alost.a Yanking my weapon from his hand, I stood again and headed for the ring, brus.h.i.+ng a mess of stray hairs from my eyes. aLetas go again.a aNo.a Spinning on my heel, I met his eyes. aWhat? Why not? Weare here to train, so letas train.a He shook his head slowly, sheathing his katana once more. aYouare not in the right frame of mind. You have to be clearheaded to attack successfully. Right now your head is clouded with anger. Weall continue our lessons tomorrow.a He turned away from me then, and within my veins, my blood began to boil. Before I gave it much thought, I ran after him, raising my katana in an attack. Darius, as if expecting this move, brought his sword back, blocking my blow in a clang of metal. He stopped, holding there, as if awaiting my next move, but I hesitated. Twisting around, he forced my katana away. His eyes were bright and fierce, and my heart was rattling with fury. The blade of his sword was pointing down, and as he backed away, he maintained his grip on it, as if he were ready for action. He looked at me pointedly and I could tell that his patience was wearing thin. His tone meant business. aWeare done.a aNo, weare not!a I whipped my sword around and brought it up, then down toward his head in another attack.

Darius countered by bringing his katana up just in time. Our bodies were intimately close, my skin on fire with anger. I wanted to fight, wanted to train harder, faster, longer, until I got it right. He moved his right elbow hard in, catching me in the mouth. Pain exploded on the side of my face, and blood trickled from my lip, only infuriating me more.

I slashed my sword at his neck, not aiming to kill, just to wound, just to stop him from controlling my actions. The way the headmaster controlled them. The way Protocol controlled them. Darius raised his sword again in a block, his face flus.h.i.+ng with color as he struggled to control his own rising anger. No sooner had he thrown me off than I came at him again, this time from the side. With his blade singing through the air, he stopped my advances again, but just in the way that I was hoping. As my blade fell from his block, I swung the katana around, so hard and so fast that I could barely see the metal swinging through the air. Darius ducked to the side just in time. Recovering quickly, he spun around, nailing me in the side. I stumbled forward, but as I planted my foot to recover, I spun around, sword raised. And that was when I noticed that Darius was swinging his katana too, right for my head.

Our blades stopped short just of one anotheras necks, our chests heaving. We could have killed one another.

Without another word, Darius dropped his weapon to the side and moved up the hill. Only when head crested the hill did he return his katana to its saya. Guilt seizing me, I called after him. aIall see you tomorrow.a But I didnat know if Iad see him tomorrow at all. Or ever again. Iad crossed a boundary that I knew not to cross. Iad attacked him against his instruction. And wead ended in a draw.

Slowly, I gathered my things and made my way to the gate. Alone.

The sun was already setting by the time I entered the rose gardens that evening. It had been a long day, but uneventful, apart from my usual inability to keep my mouth shut around Instructor Baak whenever she was talking about the glory of being a Barron and the duty of being a Healer. I was pretty sure she was suffering from delusion, because she was crazy to think there was anything wrong with being a Healer. We could heal Barrons with our medicinal skills, and heal Barrons we were Bound to with a single touch of our hand. All of that was pretty amazing in my book. And glorious. So I kind of told her to fak off. Which didnat really matter anyway. We both knew I was going to have extra duties for one reason or another.

Trayton had missed Protocol cla.s.s to run some errand for Headmaster Quill, but he was waiting for me near the toolshed now, with a smile on his lips. aWhat was todayas gem?a aI told her to fak off.a aCharming.a aI try.a We exchanged smiles before Trayton said, aMr. Gareth wants you to start on the far north side applying plant food. He said itas getting cooler, so we need to make certain the plants are ready for a change in weather.a It amazed me how quickly it had transitioned from I to we, with Trayton spending almost as many hours tending the rose gardens as I did. Not that he ever had extra duties. He just came to keep me company and, I suspected, to lighten my load a bit. Little did he realize that Iad grown to enjoy my time among the roses. It was hard work, but paying off with every bloom. Besides, it was quiet there. Not to mention blissfully Melanie and Instructor Baak free. But if Trayton preferred to while away his hours at my side in the dirt, who was I to argue?

aNot a problem. Help me carry supplies?a aOf course.a We loaded up the wheelbarrow with large containers of plant food and, once it was full, Trayton pushed it to the far end of the garden. aHow was your day, anyway? Staying out of trouble? I didnat see you at lunch.a aThatas because Darius took a few of us out to patrol the perimeter outside the wall.a At the mention of Dariusas name, I held my breath a bit. Truth was, Darius had been on my mind all day, and I was desperately hoping for a chance to apologize for attacking him the way I did. aDonat you get scared out there?a He set the wheelbarrow down next to a particularly large rosebush and began unloading a few of the containers. After removing the lid from one, he handed it to me and opened the next. The plant food smelled a bit too much like rotten vegetables. aTo be truthful, it is pretty frightening at times. But not like the Outer Rim. Now thereas a scary place. Graplars are relatively thick in numbers along the Outer Rim. And something about the way they move out there says that itas their territory. They seem tougher. Larger. More in control. Patrolling the wallas perimeter? Much easier.a Crouching by the base of the first rosebush, I dug my hand into the container and scooped out a handful of plant food. I tried my best to sprinkle it on, but the consistency was a bit moist and clumpy for that, so I ended up flinging big globs of the smelly stuff at the base of the plant.

n.o.body ever said I was delicate.

In my mind, I wasnat mulching rosebushes, but instead creeping quietly from tree to tree, hiding from the Graplars as Darius and I left the Outer Rim. My heart thumped loudly at the memory. aSo why go to the Outer Rim at all? Why patrol an area thatas overrun by Graplars?a Trayton gathered a handful of plant food in his hand and gingerly tossed it around the base of the second rosebush, as if head done it a million times before. aItas important. If we can keep them out past the Outer Rim, it lessens the chances theyall get close enough to a.s.sault the gates.a So far, Darius and I had been lucky enough to avoid any Graplars during our training sessions. But that didnat mean I didnat have nightmares about them sneaking up on us while we were training. aWhich gate is the most vulnerable? I mean, which one stands a bigger chance of Graplars overrunning the area around it?a aThe north gate. Thatas why we use the south gate as much as possible. Itas just safer.a He knelt in the earth beside me and got to work feeding the next plant, but I could tell that something was on his mind. After head finished what he was doing, he sat back and met my eyes. aListen. I want to talk to you about the other day. About your curiosity when it comes to katanas.a I reached back into my container and flung some more goo on the base of the next plant. Some of it landed on the roses themselves, and I had to admit I had a pretty terrible aim. But the plant food was only a minor distraction from Trayton. aAnd if I told you that my curiosity had been containeda?a He smiled, but there was no joy in it. aWead both know that was a lie.a It surprised me how well he knew me already. And whatas more, he was right.

aThereas nothing wrong with being curious.a aYouare right. Thereas not.a He held my gaze for a moment. After s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g the lid back on his container, he dropped it inside the wheelbarrow with a thud. aActually, Iam pretty grateful for your seeming inability to follow the rules.a I raised a suspicious eyebrow at him. aYou are?a aAbsolutely.a He stood, brus.h.i.+ng the remaining plant food from his hands so he could move the wheelbarrow farther down the row. aBecause if you didnat tell Instructor Baak off every day in cla.s.s, I wouldnat know so much about the care and cultivation of rosebushes.a As he helped me up, we both chuckled, and I playfully smacked his shoulder with my plant fooda"covered hand. It was after wead moved down the row and started on the next plants that I remembered Melanieas threat. aActually, Trayton, I have something I need to talk to you about too.a aWould this be anything to do with Darius?a My heart shot into my throat. He reached for the container of plant food and met my gaze, shrugging. aMelanie told me that you were alone with him in the courtyard the night those Graplars attacked. She said some other things, but I wanted to get your side before I jumped to any conclusions.a aMelanie isaa A particularly nasty adjective flitted through my mind, but I kept it to myself. aatrying to blackmail me into switching places with her Healer.a His eyes widened. aShe left that part out. Why would she do that?a aIam not sure I follow the logic in it, but I know it has something to do with how much she likes you.a aThere is an enormous difference between the word like and the word covet.a A dark, brooding light filled his eyes then. One that made me wonder about his and Melanieas history. But it pa.s.sed just as quickly as it had come. aSo what about being alone with Darius? Where was Maddox?a For the moment, I went with the truth, knowing that I could only reveal so much of it. aI snuck out without Maddox to confront Darius. Heas been such a dek to me since the day I got here. I wanted to know why.a aAnd did you find out?a Slightly irritated that I hadnat, I flung a particularly large glob of plant food onto the base of the rosebush in front of me. aNo.a Trayton wore a small smile. aWant to know a secret about him?a He didnat know the half of it. Darius, it turned out, was full of secrets. aWhatas that?a Trayton leaned closer, cupping his hand to his mouth, as if we were sharing some grand secret. As he whispered, it tickled my ear. aDarius is like that to everyone.a Laughing, I nudged him away with my shoulder. aNot to you.a aHe was for a long time.a aWhat happened?a I couldnat imagine a time when Darius wasnat soawellagrouchy. Maybe head been nicer before Iad come to Shadow Academy. But it seemed like his att.i.tude was simply part of his genetic makeup.

aI donat know.a He turned to face me, his eyes full of wonder. aIt was like one day he just started trusting me. Ever since then, weave been all right. I stay out of his business and he stays off my case.a I wiped my hands off on my leggings, my thoughts a million miles away. aDo you trust him?a aCompletely.a He sighed heavily and sat the container down between us, as if he tired of feeding the stupid roses. aI just wish he didnat seem so drawn to Graplars.a

CHAPTER.

Twenty-four.

Of course, twenty years to the day after the battle at Woodas Cross, a second large-scale battle would take place in the exact locationa"known as the second battle at Woodas Crossa"though no one can seem to identify exactly why two identical battles would take place in the same exact spot two full decades apart. In fact, both Shadow Academy and Starlight Academy are still recovering from the echoes of that battle, which ended just three years ago.a Mr. Ross scribbled the t.i.tles of each battle on the board as he spoke. With each word, I sank further in my seat, not wanting to hear about the battle that had stolen my parentsa Soulbound Healers away, or about a repeat of that kind of horror. I would have napped all through history, but my body was too tense. I blamed the subject matter.

aThere are theories, of coursea"that Darrek is searching for something at Woodas Cross, that Woodas Cross naturally draws evil to its center, etceteraa"but none have been proven. In fact, King Darrek himself may not have any cause to fight with such fury in that location. Perhaps this is a case of fate, and nothing more.a Stories of fate and locations of immense evil, and this was what pa.s.sed for education around here? Iad learned more about the second battle at Woodas Cross from my brief field trip with Darius than I would in ten years of Mr. Rossas lectures. I blew out a snort, drawing the eyes of several cla.s.smates and Mr. Ross. aSomething youad like to add, Kaya?a Dropping my eyes to the tabletop in front of me, I said, aI have nothing to say.a aAre you sure? After all, your father, Patrick, was the leading general at the initial battle at Woodas Cross. Perhaps he shared some tales with you about what took place?a All eyes were on me now, but my eyes were on Mr. Ross, and I was wondering if what head said were true. My father was in charge of the raid? Head never mentioned it, had only barely mentioned Woodas Cross. I had no idea head been such an important, integral part of the fight. Quieted by my awe, I shook my head, vowing to ask my father about it the next time I saw himaif I ever did. aNo. Nothing. Pleaseago on.a It was the first day I made it through History cla.s.s without falling into a coma. But that alertness only barely followed me from one cla.s.s to the next.

Hours later, as I sat in Instructor Baakas cla.s.sroom fighting a spontaneous nap, she walked back and forth in front of the cla.s.s. Her hands were clasped behind her back, her spine rigid. She looked a bit like an evil dictator. Strangely enough, it suited her. aToday you will write a five-hundred-word essay on what you would sacrifice in order to support your Barron. Would you give up time? Sleep? Would you sacrifice your very life in order to save that of your Bound or Soulbound Barron? Just how far are you willing to go, how loyal are you to the cause?a At the mention of sleep, I rested my cheek against my upturned palm and let my eyes droop. It was difficult enough facing Mr. Rossas lecture in a conscious state. I couldnat be expected to roll through Instructor Baakas blathering without at least a short break.

aEvery single person in this cla.s.sroom is related to someone who served in the war. How many of them were Healers who lost their lives? Kaya.a I jumped slightly at the sound of my name, and only just barely resisted the urge to yawn. She stopped pacing and faced me, her nose stuck slightly in the air. aAs I understand it, your parents served in the first battle at Woodas Cross, yes? Which is the Healer, your mother or father?a It was a natural presumption for her to make, but that didnat mean that it hadnat stung a bit. Glancing to my left and right before answering, my voice came out softly, as if I was embarra.s.sed, even though I had nothing to be embarra.s.sed about. aMy parents are both Barrons.a Instructor Baak pursed her lips, as if the very idea of two Barrons coupling had sent a wave of nausea over her. aAnd their Healers?a aTheir Healers both died in that battle.a She snorted. aA prime example of Healer sacrifice. Your parents should be proud. As I am prouda"my own daughter perished in the second battle of Woodas Cross.a I shook my head, unsure of what I should take away from her insinuation that anyone dying for any reason could be a good thing. aIam so sorry for your loss.a aWhy? Iam not angry. Iam not bitter. My heart isnat completely broken.a Her eyes were wide and crazy looking again, the way theyad been that day in Instructor Harnettas cla.s.s. And something elsea"Instructor Baak was lying. It was written all over her face. She was still mourning the loss of her daughter, but it seemed like she was pus.h.i.+ng that pain away, just for appearance sake. For a moment, I felt immensely sorry for her.

Then the sadness left her eyes, replaced quickly by something ugly. On its edges burned anger, but I wasnat convinced that it was aimed entirely at me. She leaned closer and narrowed her eyes at me in a glare. aWhat will you give when the time comes? Will you die for your Barron? I doubt it.a Before I could say anythinga"not that I had anything to say to thata"she snorted again and went back to pacing. I returned my cheek to my upturned palm and waited for cla.s.s to be dismissed. Only this time, I didnat fight the yawn.